Regulators approved the change last month, and operators can implement the lower payout beginning April 30.

Michael Smith (pictured), CEO of Double Eagle’s parent company, said other casinos were also involved in the proposal.

“The request was made by some casinos. My table games folks were involved in the submission,” Smith said.

Smith is the president of the Colorado Gaming Association, an industry trade group that represents about two dozen casinos in the state.

He said Double Eagle is considering adding a single-deck, pitch game that would feature the lower blackjack payout.

“That’s what we’re discussing. I don’t know if it’s ultimately going to happen,” he said. “That’s the only thing we’re considering at this time.”

Implementing the 6-to-5 payout on multi-deck games would swing the odds heavily in the house’s favor. No Colorado casinos have publicly stated that they have plans to do so. It may just be a matter of time before that happens, though.

Many casinos in Vegas, which approved 6-to-5 in the late 1990s, now feature the lower payout on their multi-deck games.

Andy Vuong joined The Denver Post as a business reporter in 2000 after graduating from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a news-editorial degree. His primary beats are gambling, telecommunications and technology. Over the years, his coverage has included everything from aviation to federal courts.